Project WidowMaker - The Build Thread

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by The WidowMaker

.......hopefully i dont ruin too much by doing the work after paint.

Good to hear you are doing well sir. If I may say, I would do the work before paint. It's bound to get nicks and scratches no matter how careful you are. Paint it last.

[crazycarguy22]

I've been doing some brainstorming with some grill mesh ideas and am worried about the same problem you sound to be having with the washed out grill. I haven't done any tests yet, but was thinking I may try the honeycomb painted black but take the time to file the paint off inside the honeycomb to add some depth. I know it would be time consuming and have no idea how it would look, but it was just an idea I was throwing around.

[The WidowMaker]

Tim, good to hear your back on it.

What color were you going with again?

thanks! its still "supposed" to be mercedes mars red with the frame color accenting on the outside. ive tossed around the idea of black, but i get swayed back when i see a nice red muscle car.

If I may say, I would do the work before paint. It's bound to get nicks and scratches no matter how careful you are. Paint it last.

i agree and im going to get as much done as possible. its going to be things like fuel and brake lines and some of the wiring that probably will have to wait. the old plan had me buying a motor in the next couple months, but i blew that money on a new truck. the kids were getting too big for the extended cab and chevy wanted to give me 13k off sticker. i do have the mockup motor, but its not any good for plumbing or wiring. im hoping to do my research and have some holes placed in the proper spots for whats needed.

I've been doing some brainstorming with some grill mesh ideas and am worried about the same problem you sound to be having with the washed out grill. I haven't done any tests yet, but was thinking I may try the honeycomb painted black but take the time to file the paint off inside the honeycomb to add some depth. I know it would be time consuming and have no idea how it would look, but it was just an idea I was throwing around.

that would probably work and look really good at the same time, but theres thousands of holes in this smaller mesh. what i would like is if you were staring straight at it, you could see through what was directly in front of you, but it appears blocked off the further you get to the sides. hard to describe, but right now its not even close to doing that unless you view the piece from its end.....

[The WidowMaker]

here are a few of the pics. still not finished, but close. the main piece still needs to get extended all the way to the fenders and where the top piece flares out isnt quite done. the whole back side of the top piece rolls down 3/4" to make a nice lip in the rear, but there isnt one yet where the piece slopes down. when this piece is welded in the transition between the center and the little edge flares will get radiused.

im not totally sold on the edges flaring out by the fenders. its small enough that they dont really distract you, but not large enough to appear to do anything. the real reason was so that i didnt have to cut the support on the drivers side fender. if i end up hating them the piece will just run straight across and ill modify the fender.

[Flash68]

Hey Tim -- I am glad to see you feeling better and posting. I hope your health continues on a strong path.

I really love that grill piece.

[waynieZ]

The grill looks awesome, nice work. Glad to see your well enough to get back on it.

[214Chevy]

As stated, glad you're better. That's the most important thing. The grill is sweet and it's not even finished yet. I love it!!

[dug]

damn that grille looks awesome. I too have a 70 chevelle however it's no where near the level yours is at. Do you have more pictures of how you fabbed the top piece of the core support? I'm not a big fan of the stock style ones myself.

[tones2SS]

Great job Tim. Glad you are feeling better!

[The WidowMaker]

Hey Tim -- I am glad to see you feeling better and posting. I hope your health continues on a strong path.

I really love that grill piece.

thanks buddy. and thanks again for the call. its guys like you that make this site great.

damn that grille looks awesome. I too have a 70 chevelle however it's no where near the level yours is at. Do you have more pictures of how you fabbed the top piece of the core support? I'm not a big fan of the stock style ones myself.

i dont really have any more pics of the build process, just where it sits now. i did most of the machine work with a wood router with the exception of the inside of the triangles. i cut the perimeter with the router and hoggged out the rest of the material with the mill. the top piece started as a flat 1/8" piece of aluminum. i routed a 90* V cut into the back to about half the depth. this allowed me to ease it over to the bends that i needed and kept them razor straight. i did however have an issue doing the same for the flares. different piece of aluminum, and no matter what i did as far as cut depth, the piece would split before hitting a 90* bend. i welded the back of them, but they no where near as easy as the main piece. im not sure if they were different grade metals or what, im just glad the 48" wide piece wasnt the tough one.

what still amazes me is how easy aluminum is to work with. i still cant weld worth crap, but you can knock the welds down and then clean them up with 80 grit on a block. not as fast as wood, but way faster than i would ever have thought. and i still cant believe the finished product turns out as good as it does after seeing it part way through the process with extra material lumped everywhere.